Echandi Jiménez, Mario (1915– )

Costa Rican politician, president 1958–62. He won the 1958 presidential election as candidate of the conservative National Union, and pursued a cautious programme, encouraging trade and industry, but lacked support within the national assembly and faced declining coffee prices. In the 1970 presidential election he was defeated by José Figueres Ferrer.

Educated at the University of Costa Rica, Echandi worked as a lawyer before serving as ambassador to the USA 1950–51 and foreign minister 1951–53, under President Otilio Ulate. Between 1953–58, during the presidency of Figueres Ferrer, he was leader of the opposition in the national assembly. In 1966–68 he was again ambassador to the USA.